Counselling Black Youth within a Canadian Multicultural Context

There is a significant need for a mental health focus on Black youth in Canada and their unique counselling needs. This group accounts for a significant portion of the population in Canada and appears to demonstrate higher rates of adversity than their White counterparts. Black Canadian youth make up the third largest visible minority group in Canada (Statistics Canada, 2016). They are also more likely than Caucasian youth to face poverty, unemployment, neighbourhood violence and family challenges (Goraya, 2015). Additionally, they demonstrate lower graduation rates (Toronto District School Board, n.d.), and report greater feelings of discrimination, segregation, and a lack of safety in schools (Ruck & Wortley, 2002).

Despite showing higher rates of stressful life events, Black Canadian youth are less likely to seek mental health treatment. Therefore, this individual research paper presentation adopts a multicultural framework that considers the incorporation of cultural coping strategies like spirituality into counselling practices for Black youth. In this presentation, barriers faced in accessing counselling services for this population will be addressed. Attention will be given to the acculturation model that provides a unique lens through which to view Black youth’s ability to develop healthy cultural identities within a Canadian multicultural context. Lastly, key recommendations for counselling this group will be generated through meaningful discussions to advance multicultural counselling scholarship.

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Retrieved from: https://ppgreview.ca/2015/03/09/the-overrepresentation-of-minority-youth-in-canadas-criminal-justice-system/

Ruck, M. D., & Wortley, S. (2002). Racial and ethnic minority high school students' perceptions

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http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/as-sa/99-010-x/99-010-x2011001-eng.cfm#a3

Toronto District School Board. (n.d.). The TDSB grade 9 cohort 2006-2011: TREND DATA

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